Inter's Injury Crisis Deepens as Pavard Joins Growing List

Inter's season is threatening to unravel before the autumn leaves have even fallen. The Nerazzurri confirmed on Friday that Benjamin Pavard has suffered a strain to the adductors of his right thigh, adding another name to an injury list that already includes captain Lautaro Martinez, summer arrival Curtis Jones and John Stones.

Pavard Sidelined for Around 20 Days

According to a club statement, Pavard reported for medical examinations in Milan on Thursday morning, where the injury was diagnosed. Initial reports suggest the French defender will be sidelined for a period of around 20 days — a timeframe that would rule him out of a demanding sequence of Serie A fixtures against Bologna, Fiorentina and Venezia, and very likely the Derby della Madonnina against Milan at the end of the month.

The timing could hardly be worse for coach Cristian Chivu, whose side is already licking its wounds after a 4-3 home defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday night. That result left Inter with zero points from their opening two matches in the competition, and the loss of their captain in the same game compounds the misery.

Lautaro Hamstring Blow Adds to the Gloom

Lautaro Martinez picked up a hamstring issue during the Club Brugge defeat and is now facing several weeks on the sidelines. The Argentine is Inter's talisman and captain, and his absence strips the side of its most reliable source of goals at a moment when the fixture calendar offers little respite.

Jones, who arrived as a summer signing, is also nursing a thigh injury and is facing another few weeks out. Stones, meanwhile, has not featured since picking up a hamstring issue on his first competitive start for the club back in September — a frustrating false dawn for a player who was expected to add experience and composure to the back line.

Taken together, the absences leave Chivu juggling a squad that is suddenly thin in both defence and attack. Pavard's versatility across the back line and in midfield made him a fixture of the setup, while Lautaro's goals have long papered over cracks in Inter's attacking play. Removing both simultaneously forces the coaching staff into makeshift solutions for a run of league games that could shape the mood around the club heading into the winter.

Inter supporters will be hoping the international break offers a chance for the treatment room to clear. Until then, every selection decision carries added weight, and the margin for error in the race for Serie A points has narrowed considerably.

Roma Also Counting the Cost of Midweek Defeats

Inter are not alone in Italy in dealing with fresh injury concerns. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini provided updates on Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala after both players limped out of the Giallorossi's 4-3 Champions League loss against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

"Koné underwent an MRI scan and has a first-degree injury. It is not particularly serious, but he needs the necessary recovery time," Gasperini said at a pre-match press conference on Friday via Sky Sport. "We hope to have him back for the Sassuolo match before the international break."

On Dybala, the Roma coach was more optimistic: "There are no particular concerns regarding Dybala. He has some fatigue in his calf muscle, and we hope to have him back next week."

Both players will miss Saturday's home Serie A match against Genoa, and Roma will be without five regular starters in total. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar will remain out for about a month with a fractured finger in his foot, Bryan Cristante is expected to return against Napoli next week, and Donyell Malen will serve a one-game ban after a straight red card against Como in the previous league round.

For Inter, the picture is less encouraging. With Pavard, Lautaro, Jones and Stones all unavailable, Chivu must find solutions from within a squad that is being stretched to its limits. The coming weeks will test both the depth of the roster and the coach's ability to adapt — and with the derby looming, there is little room for further setbacks.

Fans tracking the situation can follow all the latest developments in our latest football news section, while those looking ahead to the weekend's action can consult our today's AI betting tips.